Crate.



PATENTED JUNE 2, 1908. J. HBTTRIGH. CRATE APPLICATION FILED AUG. 9. 1907.

m Wm S m rm w & a

A 7'TORNE rs material forming the bag.

JOHN HETTRICH, OF

GRAND ISLAND, NEBRASKA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO GILBERT VANSKIKE, OF GRAND ISLAND, NEBRASKA.

CRATE Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 2, 1908.

Application filed August 9, 1907. Serial No. 387,795.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN Hnrrnron, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Grand Island, in the county of Hall and State of Nebraska, have invented an Improvement in Crates, of which the following is a specification.

My invention is an improvement in crates, and consists in certain novel constructions and combinations of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

Referring to the drawings forming a part hereof, Figure 1 is a side view of the complete crate. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section. Fig. 3 is a horizontal section on line S S of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a view of the sheet of fabric Fig. 5 is a detail of the fastening device for the bag; and. Fig. 6 is an end view of the crate folded.

In the practical application of my inven t'ion, I provide a crate comprising a frame A, a bag B, and a fastening device C for connecting the bag with the frame.

The frame A is composed of a plurality of hoops a, three in the present instance, and each of the hoops is composed of three sections, a, a a the sections a, a, being hinged to the ends of the section a as at c and the free ends of the sections a, a overlap, the section 663 being provided with a pin w traversing an opening in the end of the section a, the parts being secured together by a cotter pin a traversing an opening in the pin c A plurality of staves a connect the corresponding sections of the respective hoops together, the staves being arranged at spaced intervals, and each of the sections is lined with a lining of tin a the tin being provided with numerous perforations a for permitting a free circulation of air through the frame.

The bag B comprises a sheet of fabric material I), having its top and bottom edges hemmed as at b, and the sheet is provided with spaced series of parallel slots b for a purpose to be presently described, and when arranged within the frame, the ends of the sheet are brought together and tied as at b, with the free edges of the sheet If overlap ping each other.

The bag is connected to the frame by means of fasteners C, comprising an are shaped body portion 0, and a threaded stem 0, the body portion being of a length equal to the length of the slots, and adapted to be inserted therethrough and turned as shown at c in Fig. 2, the threaded stem projecting through an opening in a stave, and having thereon a nut 0, whereby the are shaped body portion may be drawn toward the stave to compress the tween the body portion of the fastener and the stave.

As shown in the drawing, two annular series of the fasteners are arranged between each hoop, but it is evident that more or less may be used as desired.

My improved crate is especially adapted for the reception of fruits and vegetables, such as bananas, cucumbers, etc., and when empty, the crate may be folded into the shape shown in Fig. 6, to reduce the bulk in returning the crate.

When the bag B becomes dirty, it may be removed from the frame and washed, or replaced by another bag. The framework is ordinarily formed of pressed steel, and when set up as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, is strong enough to resist all ordinary rough usage, and to preserve its contents from inury.

It will be obvious from the description, that my improved crate comprises a collapsible frame lined with a sheet of .fabric material, the ends of the sheet projecting beyond the ends of the crate, and adapted to be tied to form an inclosure, the free edges of the sheet overlapping, thus forming a bag.

WVhile I have shown and described the fabric material as extending from end to end of the crate, it is obvious that the central portion of said sheet might be omitted, it only being necessary to have enough fabric material to form the ends for tying, the crate consisting of a collapsible frame having ends of fabric material capable of being tied to form an inclosure.

I claim:

1. A crate of the class described, comprising a framework, composed of a plurality of hoops, each made in three sections, two of the sections being hinged to the ends of the other section, the free ends of said first named sections overlapping, and one being provided with a pin and the other with an opening through which the pin passes, said pin being provided with an opening, and a cotter pin traversing the opening, staves connecting the corresponding sections of the hoops, said staves being spaced apart from sides of the slot beeach other, a bag comprising a sheet of fabric material provided with a plurality of rows of spaced slots, and a plurality of fastening devices comprising an are shaped body portion and a threaded stem, the body portion being of a length corres onding to the length of a slot of the bag, and adapted to be introduced therethrough and turned at right angles to the length of the slot, the threaded stem traversing an opening in the stave, and a nut threaded on the stem whereby to draw the body ortion of the device toward the stave to 0 amp the fabric material between said body portion and the stave.

2. A crate of the class described, comprising a frame composed of a plurality of hoops, each of said hoops comprising a plurality of hinged sections, staves connecting the corresponding sections of the respective hoops, a sheet of fabric material provided with a plurality of rows of spaced slots, and a plurality of fastening devices for securing the sheet to the inner face of the frame, said fastening devices each comprising an are shaped body portion and a threaded stem, the body portion being of a length corresponding to the length of a slot of the bag, and adapted to be introduced therethrough V and turned at right angles to the length of the slot, the threaded stem traversing an opening in the stave, and a nut threaded on the stem whereby to draw the body portion of the device toward the stave to clamp the fabric material between said body portion and the stave.

3. A crate of the class described, comprising a frame composed of a plurality of hoops, staves connecting the hoops with each other,

,said staves being spaced apart from each other, a sheet of fabric material arranged within the crate with its edges overlapping, the ends of the sheet being adapted to be brought together and tied to form an in- V. closure, said sheet being provided with a 45 plurality of rows of parallel slots, and means for connecting the sheet with the crate, said means comprising a plurality of fastening devices, each comprising an are shaped body of a length corresponding to a slot of the sheet, and a threaded stem, the body being adapted to be introduced through a slot and turned at right angles thereto, the threaded stem traversing an opening in the stave, and a nut on the stem, whereby to draw said body portion toward the stave to clamp the bag between the stave and the body portion.

4. A crate of the class described, comprising a cylindrical collapsible frame, a sheet of fabric material arranged within the frame, said sheet having its free edges overlapping, the ends of the sheet being adapted to be brought together, and tied to form an inclosure, said sheet being provided. with a plurality of parallel slots, and means for securing the sheet to the frame, comprising a stave and the body portion.

5. A crate of the class described, comprising a cylindrical frame, a sheet of fabric material arranged within the frame, said sheet having its free edges overlapping, the ends of the sheet being adapted to be brought together and tied to form an inclosure, said sheet being provided with a plurality of slots, and means for securing the sheet to the frame, comprising a plurality of fastening devices, each consisting of an are shaped body of a length corresponding to a slot, and a stem, the body being adapted to be introduced through a slot and turned at right angles thereto, the stem traversing an opening in a stave, and means engaging the stem to draw said body portion toward the stave, to clamp the sheet between the stave and the body portion of the fastener.

6. A crate of the class described, comprising a frame, a sheet of fabric material arranged within the frame, said sheet having its free edges overlap ing, the ends thereof being adapted to be rought together and tied to form an inclosure, said sheet being provided with a plurality of slots, and means for securing the sheet to the frame, said means comprising a body portion adapted to be introduced through a slot and turned transversely thereof, and means in connection with the body portion and engaging a stave for drawing said body portion against the stave, whereby to clamp the sheet between the stave and the body portion.

7. A crate of the class described, comprising a framework composed of a plurality of hoops, each made in three sections, two of the sections being hinged to the ends of the other section, the free ends of said first named sections overlapping, means for securing said free ends together, staves connecting the corresponding sections of the hoops, said staves being spaced apart from each other, a perforated metallic lining for each of the sections, and a sheet of fabric material detachably connected to the staves within the frame, the ends of the sheet projecting beyond the ends of the frame and adapted to be tied to form an inclosure.

8. A crate of the class described, comprising a frame composed of a plurality of hoops, each of saidhoops comprising a plurality of hinged sections, staves connecting the corre sponding sections of the respective hoops, a metallic perforated lining connecting the respective sections of the hoops and the staves connected therewith, a sheet of fabric matewithin the same, said fabric material pro- 10 rial detachably connected With the staves jecting beyond the ends of the frame, Where- Within the frame, the ends of the sheet pro- I by to permit tying thereof to form an 'injecting beyond the ends of the frame and closure.

adapted to be tied to form an inclosure. 4 i

'9. A crate of the class described, compris- JOHN UETTRICH' ing a collapsible frame, a metallic perforated Witnesses:

lining for the frame, and a sheet of fabric SOLON C. KEMON,

material detachably connected to the frame 0. E. TRAINoR. 

